About

XPlotter - Desktop Plotter, Laser Cutter and Engraver

$403,700

pledged of $5,000 goal

827

backers

What is a prototype?

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

Proof of Concept

Explorations that test ideas and functionality.

Functional Prototype

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

Appearance Prototype

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Design Prototype

Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Production Prototype

Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.

Prototype Gallery

These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.

XPlotter is designed to create a new definition of plotter. By integrating the laser engraver and cutter into the mechanism, it becomes a versatile yet affordable desktop tool for artists, craftsmen and makers to set their imagination free. XPlotter is not just capable of simulating real effects of handmade drawing and writing, cutting out and laser engraving on different materials as people like, but also be able to pick and place objects with great accuracy, leaving room for secondary development on more applications.

XPlotter Can Write

The writing of XPlotter features handmade effects. Indeed, the process is almost the same as that of a human hand writing. It is accomplished stroke by stroke with a real pen at certain angle to the paper but just by a robotic arm, which moves in a steady programmed way.

XPlotter allows you to produces good writing in any fonts and styles you like without making any typos, stains on the paper, while retaining the realistic feel of hand writing. Pen is not the only choice for XPlotter. As the pen holder is adjustable, it fits various implements, such as pencils, markers, charcoal, chalks and so much more.

People often feel comfortable and respected in front of nice hand writings. You can spread this feeling through people around you with the help of our XPlotter. There could be a wide range of applications:

Cards or notes or letters

Cool posters (could combined with the drawing of XPlotter)

Customized signature

Invitations

Place cards for conferences and important social events

......

XPlotter Can Draw

XPlotter draws pictures in two different ways. The drawing can be executed in pen, ballpoint pen, water color, pencil, etc.

You can choose a picture and upload it on the computer. Then XPlotter could start draw it on the paper. It is not simply “printing” the images you choose but a process involves a lot of techniques. Like the cute cats we present to you, in order to portray the texture of the fluffy fur, XPlotter uses varied length and density of lines to render the shading on the cat, making them look more vivid and real. On the contrary, printers often fail to reappear the texture and details of the original picture.

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You can also let XPlotter to draw on its own via the program, that’s how the colorful tree was painted. Unlike the upload-and-draw way, XPlotter will totally listen to his internal voice (the program) and create images randomly without repeating the same for twice. Every picture is unique. What an original artist!

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XPlotter Can Laser Engraving

XPlotter is more than a plotter. It could transform into laser engraver if you want. From wood, leather, fabric to kraft, there is a wide range of materials it can engrave directly on. Equipped with a powerful laser, XPlotter is able to engrave a work of art within a short of time.

Engraving on Anodized Aluminium

What can you do with the engraver

You must be tired of using the same products as any other. How about customize your individual style? For instance, you can engrave your own phone case and music box, or anything that is suitable for laser operation. Turning your (or other people’s) favorite picture into a laser-engraved form could also be amazing and of great fun. Let alone it can help make unique gift to the person you care.

Use laser engrave to do Printmaking is also very easy.

About Safety Use

Safety is always what we concern about. Lasers are potentially hazardous as it could be powerful enough to burn and cut things. The laser we use is of high power, in order to minimize the potential risks of laser accidents, we offer a specifically designed goggles for XPlotter to protect your eyes during laser working. On the other hand, a Velcro sticker pad was designed for Laser head with a view to avoid excessive scattering of laser. If unfortunately, (we wish it would never happen) you expose your skin under the working-on laser head before you realize it, pls press the quick shut down key as soon as possible to avoid further injury to the skin. We hope you can enjoy yourself on engraving but stay alert is necessarily important.

XPlotter Can Laser Cutting

If XPlotter can be laser engraving, then why shouldn’t we make the cutting accessible?

XPlotter laser cutter is a great tool that expands the field of creation from the two-dimensional world to a three-dimensional one. XPlotter is capable of cutting up to 3 mm of wood.

Once the pieces were cut out from the board, the happy time of assembly would start. You can make yourself a decorative lampshade or other interesting works involves in fitting and assembling. Models require high precision can also be done by XPlotter. It would be convenient for architects, artists and makers to build up their own models unmistakably through our XPlotter. Since XPlotter could cut graphs into tangible pieces, it provides a good chance to verify the prototypes in a more direct way, e.g. making a moving Nautilus Gears.

You might be wondering if it was possible for XPlotter to cut materials that is thin and light. Because as we all know the thinner the material is, the harder the cutting will be done. But our answer is “Yes”. XPlotter has no problem with that. It is able to cut complicated and delicate patterns out from thin materials as a scissor or pen knife does to it, but the edges will be soother and clearer. For example, the XPlotter can make a exquisite paper cutting on a sheet of thin paper. It can deal with all the details carefully without breaking any ties between the hallow patterns.

Making a Laser Cut Leather Lamp at home is no longer impossible.

Laser Processable Materials

XPlotter Can Pick and Place

“X” is a mysterious letter, indicating something or someone that is unknown or unclear, which requires endless exploring and discovering. That is exactly what we wish for our robot. We want you to always have an expectation on our work.

XPlotter could be far beyond a plotter, a laser engraver and a cutter if you let yourself go out of the box. We managed to make a built-in vacuum pump system, enable XPlotter to pick and place at a high speed and feature a precision within 0.012mm. It only takes you a few minutes to change the end effector into a vacuum suction cup, which is powerful enough to grab spherical items. We will open source the interface for you to conduct a secondary development. For example, you can make XPlotter to play the chess with you. XPlotter can become a medium for your further innovations.

Showcase

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Development of XPlotter

We have developed 5 prototypes of XPlotter, improved the hardware for more than 10 times. Finally we choose to use the all-medal CoreXY as the main structure for enhancement. The product becomes more solid and stable and can move very fast. Now the final XPlotter is ready to release. Below images present the improvement process of our main prototypes in different periods.

Easy to Use (Hardware + Software + Secondary Development)

Our goal is to make a product that integrated the functions of a plotter, a laser engraver and a cutter but comparatively at a lower cost, making it accessible to more people. Added functions mean added complexity. But we managed to simplify the steps and keep it easy to use. At the same time, we open source the operation interface to welcome more amazing applications made by our users through the secondary development.

Easily Assembled End-Effector

User Friendly Software

We offer an easy-to-use operating software for different application scenarios. The software will work on Windows and Mac OS.

Compatible with Inkscape

Secondary Development

The mainboard we used is ATmega2560, Arduino compatible. We will open source the operation interface for users to extend their own applications on the basis of the XPlotter.

Touch Screen & SD Card

You can also use XPlotter by the 2.8 inch touch screen and SD without connecting to the computer.

XPlotter Specifications

XPlotter VS Others

Rewards

Time Line

Team members

There are 7 members in our team so far:

Eric Wang leads this team on project management and business.

Jerry Peng is the software and algorithm engineer in the team.

James Wang is the mechanical engineer.

Wanhong Zeng is the electronic engineer.

Yi Yang works for the supply chain part.

Kebo Shi works for the manufacturing part.

Lichun Deng is the Graphic Designer.

Risks and challenges

Our team members are based in CA, US and Shenzhen, China to make sure that we are close to the factories.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $429 or more
About $429

XPlotter Basic + Vacuum Cup Gripper

XPlotter + Pen Holder + Vacuum Cup Gripper
You will get a fully assembled XPlotter Basic, a Pen Holder, a Vacuum Pump inside, a Vacuum Cup Holder, a Vacuum Cup, a USB Cable and a 12V Power Supply. The final retail after Kickstarter is $529.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $529 or more
About $529

XPlotter Laser + Vacuum Cup Gripper

XPlotter + Pen Holder + Laser + Vacuum Cup Gripper
You will get a fully assembled XPlotter Basic, a Pen Holder, a 2.5W Laser, a Goggles, a Vacuum Pump inside, a Vacuum Cup Holder, a Vacuum Cup, a USB Cable and a 12V Power Supply. The final retail after Kickstarter is $629.